Deified DNA.

Galatians 4

My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you. – Vs 19

I've always found this interesting. Here is Paul, a hard-nosed, type-A personality, the preeminent apostle of the church of God, a guy who had been stoned and left for dead, flogged, shipwrecked, and persecuted, comparing himself to a mother about to give birth. Not exactly something you'd expect from a guy like Paul. But what is he saying? What's his point?

Paul is obsessed with the spiritual development of the believers in Galatia. He wants to see Christ formed in them. That is, he is passionate about seeing them develop and live outChrist’s nature or character in their daily lives. That is what spiritual formation is all about. It isn't about more Bible knowledge. Sure, we need to study God's Word, but for the purpose of discovering more about Him and His Son Jesus Christ. We are to learn more about Him so that we can become like Him. spiritual formation isn't about activity, no matter how spiritual that activity may appear. It's about Christ being formed or fashioned in you, like a baby being formed in the womb of its mother. His character is growing within you, maturing and becoming increasingly more distinct day after day.

Spiritual formation was an ongoing theme for Paul. Take a look at just a few of the passages that reflect his commitment to spiritual growth and increasing in our Christ-likeness.

And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more. – 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren. – Romans 8:29

…until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ. – Ephesians 4:13 (NIV)

Paul's heart was to see heart transformation take place in the lives of those to whom he ministered day in and day out. He wanted them to embrace the reality that they were new creatures. They had new identities. They were children of God. Heirs of God according to Galatians 4:7. He wanted them live out of the reality of who they really were in Christ – a people who had been changed, not being changed. We have Christ's nature within us. Now it is being formed or fashioned so that it grows into full maturity. We are not sinners trying to become saints. We are saints who happen to sin. We have a new DNA, a new nature. And Paul wants to see that new nature become increasingly more apparent in our lives. We won't be completely like Christ in this life. But we should be making progress as the Christ-nature within us grows and matures. Then one day, we are told, we will be like Him. We will be glorified and completely sanctified, with a nature just like His.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. – 1 John 3:2

The day is coming when we will have resurrected bodies, just like His. We will be completely pure, just like He is. We will be sinless, just like He is. And we will be completely and entirely righteous, just as He is. But until that day, Christ's nature is growing inside us and being revealed with us. Do you see it? Better yet, do those around you see it?

Father, Thank You for giving me a new nature. I have Christ living within me. I am not the old Ken I used to be. I'm not even a new and improved version of the old me. I am a new creation! I have a new nature, the nature of Christ. And You are maturing that nature within me. May His nature become increasingly more evident in my life, especially to those around. Let them see Christ in me, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Amen

A Work Of The Spirit.

Galatians 3

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? – Vs 3

You may feel like I have a one-track mind, but I can't help but notice that Paul is driving home this works-righteousness issue again. He is hammering home to the Galatians that they can't allow what they began by faith to turn into some experiment in the power of human effort. It seems that these people were buying into the idea that if they could somehow keep the Law, along with their faith in Christ, they would be pleasing to God. They had bought into the lie that they could make themselves righteous just by keeping a set of rules. So Paul literally screams at them "Are you so foolish?" Have you lost your mind? What are you thinking? I like the way this verse reads in the New Living Translation: Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?"

They had started in the Spirit, but were trying to finish what God had begun in their own self-effort. But don't we do the same thing? We place our faith in Christ. We acknowledge that we can't save ourselves. We recognize that salvation is through faith alone in Christ alone. We add nothing to the equation. But then we somehow think that's where the grace ends and our effort begins. He saves us, but we have to sanctify ourselves. We have to discover the right set of rules to keep in order to become truly righteous. And there are always plenty of people ready and willing to tell us what the rules are. In Paul's day, it was the Judaizers. In our day, it's well-intentioned individuals who have failed to understand that our spiritual growth is a work of God, not man. So they come up with their own list of rules and regulations to keep. They decide what the actions and activities of a godly person look like and then lay those expectations on all those they meet. They even attempt to model this kind of life. They are busy for God. They work out their faith with fear and trembling. They have quiet times, pray a lot, serve even more, memorize scripture, go to Bible studies, and try to eliminate anything of a worldly nature from their lives. But in spite of all this, many of them lack joy and peace. They smile a lot and praise God in all things, but behind their mask of super spirituality is a person who feels they can't do enough to please God. So they work harder and do more. Why? Because they have been led to believe that spirituality is all about doing. It is behavior-based. And because they are stuck on this treadmill of human achievement, they invite others to join them, because they don't want to be alone.

But Paul reminds us, "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus" (Vs 26). I don't have to earn sonship, I already have it. I don't have to do anything to merit God's favor, it's already mine. He LOVES me! Yet how easily we buy into the lie that God is somehow displeased with us and demanding more from us.

This distortion has kept us tied down, guilt-ridden, weary, lonely and isolated from each other. We've seen God as disgusted by our failures and have been left trying to somehow earn our way back into His favor. Most of us sadly came to believe that while we are justified through faith by grace, somehow we must mature and heal by some other means. We have become the "buck up" people. And though it hasn't worked, we didn't know another way. So, we've just learned to try harder. But the day of self-righteous, religious performing for cheap applause truly is coming to an end. It has brought us nothing but enhanced skils in hiding, proving, striving, posturing and bluffing. Many of us, all over the world, have grown desperately tired of it. - Two Roads, Two Rooms, Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol, and John Lynch

Have you lost your senses? Have you bought into the lie that more is required of you before God will love you? Do you think that God has left it up to you to become what He expects you to be? Is your spiritual maturity your responsibility? If so, then Paul's message is for you. You are trying to "become perfect by human effort." And the result of all that effort will always be disappointment and defeat. Because true spiritual transformation is a work of the Spirit, not the flesh. Only He can change us. And until we recognize that reality and begin to live in it, we will never enjoy the peace of knowing "that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).

Father, keep reminding me that Your grace is enough. Forgive me for the times I begin to believe that it is all up to me. It shows up in all my busyness and self-effort. I somehow think that I have to do more. I have to work harder. And I fail to rest in the fact that you are perfecting me in spite of me. I know I have a part to play. I can't just sit back and do nothing. I know I need to read Your Word. I know prayer needs to become a more significant part of my life. But I also know that anything I do, apart from the power of Your Holy Spirit, will accomplish nothing. Bring me to my senses. Help me remember that You love me and that You are making me into the likeness of Your Son. Amen

The Grace To Change.

Galatians 2

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly. – Vs 21

I love the way this verse is translated in the New Living Translation: "I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die." The Message paraphrases it this way: I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily."

The grace of God versus the works of men. It is amazing how often this theme has come up already in our readings in the New Testament. It was a problem then, and it is a problem today. Somehow we want to take the grace of God and replace it with some form of human effort or achievement. In Paul's day it was the Judaizers (converted Jews) who wanted to force the Gentiles to be circumcised and keep all of the requirements of the Law before they could be considered saved. They were adding to the Gospel message. They were attaching a list of rules and requirement that must be met before someone could truly be saved. And Paul would have nothing to do with it. In fact, he calls Peter a hypocrite and condemned him to his face for siding with the Judaizers over this issue.

Paul makes it very clear:

Nevertheless, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. – Vs 16

We cannot be justified or declared righteous before God based on any amount of good deeds or rule keeping we attempt to do. We cannot earn favor with God by working harder or doing more. We can't make Him love us more or make Him love us less. He simply loves us because of our relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. Yet how often do we try to earn favor with God by trying to do more for Him? By attempting to change our behavior? By working a little bit harder on our sin? We really have convinced ourselves that the following formula works:

Less bad behavior + More good behavior = Holiness

So we go through behavior modification, working on our sin and hoping to gain some kind of brownie points with God. But all that is just another form of works-righteousness. It is exactly what Paul was condemning in this chapter. Paul says that we have died to any form of law-keeping. "For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God" – Vs 19. Jesus' death on the cross paid the penalty for sin that the Law demanded. So Paul could stop trying to keep the Law as a means of winning God's acceptance. He was accepted by God because of Jesus. Case closed. Paul summarized his thoughts in verse 20:

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Listen to what the New Living Translation says: So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." I live my life on this earth, not having to trust in my own self-effort or on what I can do, but on what Jesus Christ has already done. And knowing that He loved me and gave His life for me. Sure, I still need to change. I need to grow. I need to cease from my sinful behavior. But I do it out of love for God and in recognition of His grace. I want my life to reflect who I have become in Christ: A child of God. So I choose to say no to sin. I choose to accept God's ongoing grace that gives me the power to change. I understand that I can no nothing on my own, but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

Father, Thank You for Your grace. Thank You that I do not have to change myself to gain favor with You. I don't have to change before You will love me. You chose to love me when I was still a sinner and now You continue to love me even when I am a saint who chooses to sin. You keep extending grace to me day after day, giving me the desire to change and providing the power for that change to take place. Forgive me when I fall back into my old habit of trying to change myself in my own strength. When I do it is as if I make what Jesus did on the cross as of no value. Help me to remember everyday of my life that I am who I am because of Christ and I will become who You want me to be because of Christ. And not because of me.  Amen

It's A Process.

Galatians 1

He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy. And they were glorifying God because of me. – Vs 23-24

Transformation. Isn't that what the gospel is all about? Being radically changed from the inside out. In two sentences Paul summarizes the change that took place in his life. He went from the persecuted to being the persecuted. He went from destroyer to disciple. This one time Pharisee on the ladder to success, was now a new man with a new heart. Yes, his change was more radical than many of ours. And it was more immediate. Or was it? Paul says it was well over three years. During this time he grew in the faith and was prepared by God for the task for which he was called. And all the while he was going through the transformation of his life and character, heart and soul, mind and spirit. The life of Paul is a perfect example of the verse in Romans 12:2.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

This passage was written by none other than Paul himself. And he spoke from experience. He had been and was still being transformed as he daily renewed his mind. As we read in 2 Peter, Paul was daily growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. That is how transformation takes place. Sure, Paul had been saved on the road to Damascus, but God was not done with him. That was just the beginning of a transformational process that would continue until the day God took Paul home to be with him. Transformation is a daily, ongoing process by which we are changed, step by step into the likeness of God's Son.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. – 2 Corinthians 3:18

Paul was being transformed. Are you? Am I? And are people glorifying God because of us? Paul's transformation was more than just a story about life change. It was visible, undeniable, and in many ways, unbelievable to those who were witnessing it. Paul was a changed man. Not just on the outside, but on the inside. He had a new heart, a new nature, and they revealed themselves in a new passion: spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to the Gentile world. How is your transformation showing up in daily life? Can others see the change taking place in you? Is it radical? Is it impacting the way you talk, act, think, and live? When we allow God to continue His transformational work in our lives, transforming us into the image of His Son, with ever-increasing amounts of glory, others will sit up and take notice – and glorify God. They'll have to admit that the change is not man-made, but God-produced, and give Him the glory He deserves. I like the way The Message paraphrases Romans 12:2:

Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Fix your attention on God and you'll be changed from the inside out.

Father, Thank You for continuing Your transformational work in my life. Sometimes it seems painfully slow. Other times it seems as if nothing is happening at all. But You are faithful and You continue to work inside me to make me into the man You want me to be. The same power that saved me is slowly sanctifying me, making me more like Your Son every day. Help me keep my attention fixed on You, so that I might be changed from the inside out.  Amen

Grow In Grace.

2 Peter 3

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. – Vs 18

Keep on growing. Continue to increase. Make every effort to mature. That's the essence of what Peter says as he ends his letter. He has warned his readers about false teachers and their destructive heresies, about mockers who cast doubt on the Word of God, and about the need for believers to keep their eyes and hope focused on the return of the Lord. But he closes his letter with a charge, an admonition. That his readers will respond to all of this by continuing to grow or increase in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Grow in Grace

What does this mean? How do you "grow in grace?" First of all, we have to get our minds around the concept of grace. In the New Testament it refers to the free, unmerited favor of God; to the favor or kindness given to those who can never deserve it or earn it by anything they do or refrain from doing. As Chuck Swindoll aptly puts it, “Every time the thought of grace appears, there is the idea of its being undeserved. In no way is the recipient getting what he or she deserves. Favor is being extended simply out of the goodness of the heart of the giver.”

Grace is a gift. So how do we grow in it? I think what Peter is really saying is that we are to grow within the context of grace, remembering that even our spiritual growth is up to God and not us. We can no more make ourselves grow spiritually than we can save ourselves by our own effort. Both are made possible by grace. Sure, we can study the Bible and memorize Scripture. We can pray, meditate, fast, and practice all of the spiritual disciplines. We can serve God and share the Gospel with the lost. But if we do it thinking that we are somehow gaining favor with God or earning merits that put us in a better light with Him, we have failed to understand the grace of God. And the truth is, many of us as believers fail to grow in the context of grace. It is not the environment in which we spiritually mature. Think of it this way. It is like a plant that finds itself in an environment that is perfectly suited for growth – ample sunshine, gentle rain, fertile soil. The plant does not do anything to improve its environment, it simply grows in the midst of it. It takes full advantage of it. It grows because the context is perfectly suited for growth. So as believers, we need to constantly remind ourselves of the context within which we have been place. The context of grace. We must remind ourselves that God has placed us in His garden of grace, where self-effort, human achievement, hard work, and self-righteousness play no role and add no benefit. In fact, remember what Peter said at the beginning of his letter:

His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. – Vs 3

So we should grow, increase, mature – because His grace makes it possible. In fact, within His grace, growth is natural, normal and effortless. It is when we step outside of His grace, that it becomes painful and labored, leaving us stunted, immature, and fruitless.

Grow in the Knowledge of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

In the garden of God's grace, we are to increase in our knowledge of Jesus. As verse 3 states, it is through our knowledge or recognition of Jesus Christ as our Savior that we gain everything we need for life and godliness. And that doesn't change after salvation. It is still all through Him. We need to remember the context in which we live: Grace. And we need to remember the source of all we need: Christ. Our goal is to seek to know Him better and better. Not to know about Him, but to know Him, personally and intimately. To increase in our relationship with Him. As we increase in our knowledge of and intimacy with Jesus, we take on His characteristics. We begin to live like He lived, love like He loved, and serve like He served. And the qualities listed in chapter one, verses 5-7 begin to appear in our lives.

The tendency for us as Christians is to look at our immediate surroundings and question how we can possibly grow in a place like this, surrounded by sin. But what we fail to remember is that we are IN grace. We have been firmly planted in the fertile soil of God's garden of grace. We are being nourished by His grace, watered by the gentle favor of His grace, and warmed by the sunshine of His grace. So we can grow and increase in our knowledge of Jesus Christ, the One who made God's grace possible in the first place.

Father, may I remember each and every day that I am planted firmly in the garden of Your grace. My growth is no more up to me than was my salvation. Help me remember that. I still need to study, meditate, grow, share and serve, but I also need to remember that any growth that takes place in my life is due to the undeserved favor of God. Not because I somehow earned it. So even on my worst day, I can grow. Even when I am tired, I can grow. Because the sunshine of Your grace always shines on me. Thank You!  Amen

Grace-less and Truth-less.

2 Peter 2

These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. – Vs 17

In this chapter, Peter warns the people to beware of false teachers showing up in their midst. In the Greek, Peter's language carries the idea that they will sneak in unawares. These individuals would look and sound good, but they would really be teaching "destructive heresies." This isn't talking about off-the-wall doctrinal falsehood. It simply means they'll have viewpoints and opinions that, in the end, will destroy the body of Christ from within. They'll start out subtle, but it will end up with them denying the very One who died for them – Jesus Christ. Sounds pretty serious. But listen to what Peter says:

And many will follow their debauched lifestyles. Because of these false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. – Vs 2

Many will follow them – mimicking their lifestyles, willingly accepting their brand of truth over "the way of truth" – God's revealed plan for salvation through Jesus Christ alone. They'll come teaching "false words" and motivated by greed. Think your average, over-the-top, prosperity-preaching, TV evangelist. Except the people Peter is talking about were a lot less obvious about it. They were going to show up looking like one of the saints, but sharing viewpoints and opinions that were grace-less and truth-less.

Look at how Peter describes them. "These are springs without water and mists driven by the storm" (Vs 17). I love the way the New Living Translation puts it:

These people are as useless as dried–up springs of water or as clouds blown away by the wind––promising much and delivering nothing.

It reminds me of the description of false teachers found in the book of Jude:

These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted. – Jude 1:12

Hidden reefs in your love feast (Vs 12) -    They are treacherous and can shipwreck your faith -    They were part of the fellowship -    Sharing in intimacy -    They were shepherds feeding themselves

Clouds without water (Vs 12)

-    They appear promising, but only disappoint

-    They fail to provide

-    They obscure the light

-    They fail to meet needs

Carried along by winds (Vs 12)

-    Blown by every wind of doctrine

-    No substance or stability

Autumn trees without fruit (Vs 12)

-    No spiritual fruit in their lives

-    Their words supply no life-giving refreshment

-    They fail to fulfill their purpose

Doubly dead, uprooted (Vs 12)

-    Absolutely dead and worthy of destruction

Wild waves of the sea (Vs 13)

-    Undisciplined and out of control

-    Destructive

-    Active, but non-productive

-    Revealing only their own shame

Wandering stars

-    You can’t chart a course by them

-    Unreliable

-    Their destiny is hopeless and dark

These kinds of people are to be avoided like the plague, but Peter warns that they are coming to a church near you soon! They may already be there. In fact, they're all around us. Speaking half-truths, offering tempting words that sound good, but lead to destruction. If fact, there's a prominent TV preacher who is filling the minds of millions of people with his "opinion" of the truth. See if you can spot the heresy.

• When one is born again by faith in Jesus, he is given a new spirit man that wasn't there before -- a spirit man that is divine in nature and God-like
• Never, ever, ever go to the Lord and say, 'If it be thy will'
• No Christian should ever be sick
• We Christians possess 'power in our mouths' to heal or kill just as witches possess it
• Job tapped into the negative side of the faith force by a negative confession
• Christ 'became one with the nature of Satan' and was 'born again' in hell
• Christ would have sinned without the Holy Spirit and would have remained in the grave 'if the Holy Ghost had changed His mind about raising Him from the dead'
• We are 'little gods' and even part of God with all the power of God
• We are 'little messiahs,' everything that Jesus ever was."

Do you see it? False words. Destructive heresies. Arrogant. Enticing. Promising. But totally wrong. And potentially destructive. So Peter warns his readers and he warns us to beware. But what's the best way to spot falsehood? Know the truth. Study it. Meditate on it. Apply it. Test it. Make the truth of God so real in your life that you can spot falsehood a mile away. Jesus put it this way:

If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of mine. and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." – John 8:31-32

Father, make me a student of Your truth. Help me continue in, to hold to, to obey the teachings of Your Son. That I might know the truth and have the freedom that only it can deliver. Never let me be enslaved to the false teaching that is so prevalent today. It sounds so right, but is so wrong. Because it is not of You. It's my desire to be a student of Your truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.  Amen

His Role / Our Role.

2 Peter 1

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence… – Vs 5

…the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. – Vs 11

It seems that most of us as believers are always struggling with the part we play in this mysterious journey called sanctification. If we are in Christ, we basically understand that our salvation was God's thing. He did it all through Jesus Christ. We played no part in it. We couldn't earn our salvation or add anything to it to deserve it. It was a gift from God. But there's something strange that happens after Christ redeems us. We somehow think it's up to us alone to reform us. He bought us our ticket into heaven, now we have to make sure we are worthy to get on the train when it departs the station. So we begin earning our stripes. We go out of our way to make ourselves more holy. We seek after righteousness. We pursue moral excellence. We run the race to win. And we wear ourselves out in the process. Not that any of those things are wrong, in and of themselves. In fact, they are all biblical.

He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. – Proverbs 21:21

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. – 1 Timothy 6:11

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. – Hebrews 12:1

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. – Romans 12:11

I could go on and on. Even in this chapter of 2 Peter, we are told to supply, add to, or "furnish besides" a whole list of qualities to our faith. But have you ever wondered why we can work so hard at improving ourselves spiritually and still seem to lack any real fruit, experience any significant joy, feel any closer to God than when we began? I think Peter gives us some insights. He tells us that God has "granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness" (Vs 3). The New Living Translation puts it this way:

As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.

Peter goes on and says that "He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature" (Vs 4). God has given us His Son and His Holy Spirit to save us and to sanctify or transform us. And they are both ours by an act of faith. We don't do anything to receive either one, except believe. And it is because we have received these promises of God that we should then begin to add to our faith the qualities listed in verses 5-7. But we don't manufacture them. We don't will them into existence. They are already ours at salvation. We have them available to us through the presence of the Holy Spirit. They reside within us. Peter says, "For if these qualities are yours…" (Vs 8). The New English Translation puts it this way: "For if these things are really yours…" In other words, Peter is saying, if you are a Christian, then these qualities are yours and they should be increasing. They are the byproduct of a vibrant relationship with Christ.

To lack these qualities is a sign that something is wrong. Peter says, "But concerning the one who lacks such things – he is blind. That is to say, he is nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins" (Vs 9). No amount of pursuing, striving after, seeking, or attempting to manufacture this list in my life is going to work if I have become blind to the fact that I have been purified from my former sins. In other words, I have lost sight of the fact that it is because I have been saved and redeemed that I am able to experience these godly characteristics in my life. God has purified me and He will perfect me. He wants to mature me into the nature He has already given me. Lacking these qualities is a sign that I lack faith. I fail to trust God that He can accomplish His work in me. That's why Peter warns us to "be all the more diligent to make certain of His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble" (Vs 10). If these things are lacking in our lives, Peter seems to say that we may need to go back and examine whether we were ever saved in the first place. Because someone who is in Christ will naturally "practice these things." They are the natural outflow of a relationship with Christ and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

It's interesting that Peter goes on to say that God not only supplies everything I need for salvation and sanctification, He supplies my ultimate entrance into heaven (Vs 11). He uses the same word that he used in verse 5 - epichoregeo. God supplies it all. He gives us everything we need for life and godliness. But how easy it is to forget that and assume that it is somehow up to us. So we work. We strive. We serve. We pursue. And we wear ourselves in the process. Because we fail to understand that our holiness is up to Him, not us. It is a gift of His grace. Which is why Peter starts his letter by saying, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord (Vs 2).

Father, keep me focused on You. Forgive me for often thinking that it is all up to me when it comes to my holiness. I work so hard to please You, serve You, and to grow in godliness. But I just find myself worn out. But You offer Your grace and peace. You grant me everything I need for life and godliness. Help me to understand that truth and live it out in my daily life.  Amen

An Attitude of Humility.

1 Peter 5

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. – Vs 6-7

Notice that it says, "humble yourselves." It is a choice we make. We are the ones who decide that we will take a lower place, or as the Greek word tapeinoo means, "to be ranked below others who are honored or rewarded." We willingly place ourselves under God's mighty hand. But what does that mean? It sounds so negative, as if God is waiting to backhand us if we don't do what He tells us to do. It gives the impression that God is some oppressive, heavy-handed deity who wants to keep us under His thumb just so He can keep us down. But that is NOT what it means at all. In fact, if you look at the phrase. "mighty hand" as used in this verse, it speaks of His power. Look at the definition of the Greek word cheir translated "hand" in verse 6:

Applied to God symbolizing his might, activity, power 2a) in creating the universe 2b) in upholding and preserving (God is present protecting and aiding one) 2c) in punishing 2d) in determining and controlling the destinies of men

So in humbling myself under God's mighty hand, I am submitting to His incredible, universe-creating power, and acknowledging that He is in control of all things and I am not. I don't do this out of fear, but out of the recognition that He loves me. He has chosen me. He sent His Son to die for me. God doesn't want to keep me down. No, instead He wants to lift me up! He wants to exalt me. The Greek word is hupsoo, and it means "to raise to the very summit of opulence and prosperity, to exalt, to raise to dignity, honor and happiness." That is what God wants to do with me! But first I must choose to humble myself under His hand. I must come to Him as one in need. I must admit that I am nothing compared to Him. I must submit to His authority in and over my life.

But this isn't all about giving up my position and power. It's also includes giving up my anxieties! As I give up control over my life I am released togive up all the cares and concerns of my life. You see, casting and humbling go hand in hand. They are not two separate commands, but one. The NET Bible makes this very clear:

Humbling oneself is not a negative act of self-denial per se, but a positive one of active dependence on God for help.

I humble myself because I know that God is the source for all my needs. In humbling myself, I am admitting my weakness and inability to take care of my problems on my own. I am turning to the one and only source for the solutions I need in life: God. Peter tells us to literally throw our anxieties on God. We are to give to Him all our worries, cares, and anxious concerns. Why? Peter says it clearly. "Because He cares for you." God, the all-powerful creator of the universe, CARES FOR YOU! He cares about you. You matter to Him. So much so, that He has plans to exalt you and just the right time. His goal is not keep you humbled, but to make you dependent. He wants you to come to Him, to see your need for Him, to trust Him, to depend on Him to meet all your needs. But it all begins with an attitude of humility. Swallowing your pride and admitting your weakness. That's hard for most of us. And the truth is, most of us don't do it until we have a life filled with anxiety. We wait until we get to a point where we don't know what to do, then we finally turn to God. Because nothing else is working. We have no more tricks up our sleeves. It is at that point that we finally humble ourselves and come to God. And guess what? He is always there with arms wide open! He doesn't judge us, lecture us, punish us, or shake His head in disgust at us. No, He wraps His arms around us and takes our cares and concerns and replaces them with His comfort and loving concern. And over time He "raises us to the very summit of opulence and prosperity, exalt us, raising us to places of dignity, honor and happiness." Now that's an exchange worth making!

Father, You are an amazing God! You love me more than I could ever know and You stand waiting to bless me in ways I could never imagine. All I need to do is come to you in humility, admitting my weakness and acknowledging my need for You. In exchange for all my cares, worries, and anxieties, You give Me unconditional love. You shower me with Your grace. And on top of that, You raise me up at just the right time and in just the right way. It's a win-win for me. But I still fail to come to You like I should. I tend to wait until I am desperate and distraught. Please forgive me of my stubbornness and pride. You have proven Yourself to me time and time again, but I still refuse to humble myself under Your mighty hand until I have been humiliated by the results of my own sinful behavior. But when I do come, You are always there, and You always love me. Thank You.  Amen

Suffering - Loving - Praying - Serving - Rejoicing

1 Peter 4

Today's chapter didn't have one particular verse that popped out at me. Instead, I found the entire chapter a strange mix of admonitions, encouragements, warnings, and instructions. The major theme seems to be that of suffering. In fact, Peter seems to suggest that our suffering on this earth (as Christians) is a reflection of our salvation. It is proof of the reality of Christ's death and resurrection. We don't have to live a life controlled by sin. We can say no. We can yes to the will of God. Yet we still struggle with the reality of sin in our lives. We may even suffer as a result of its constant onslaught. But that is the life in this flesh. We suffer because we are believers – from the effects of sin and as a result of persecution for our faith. The truth is, most of us in American suffer more from our battle with sin than being persecuted for our faith. But we suffer none-the-less. So Peter tells us…

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. - Vs 12

We are sharing in Christ's sufferings. We are going through the same thing He went through. So what are we supposed to do? Peter lays it out for us. He says we are to pray (Vs 7). He tells us to love one another (Vs 8), to show hospitality to one another (Vs 9), to use our spiritual gifts to serve one another (Vs 10), and to keep on rejoicing (Vs 13). And finally he tells us to see our suffering as part of the will of God and to trust the outcome, the salvation of their souls, to the faithfulness of God.

So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good. - Vs 19

So no matter how bad it may seem, we are to do good. No matter how difficult the circumstances may appear, we are to rejoice in them. We are to love one another, serve one another, and open our hearts and homes to one another.  We are to communicate to one another the words of God and serve one another in the strength of God (Vs 11). So that God is glorified through our lives as we live them out on this earth.

Father, I admit that I am still somewhat surprised by the trials that I encounter on this earth. I guess I still kind of expect life to be a little bit easier on me because I am Yours. I don't want to have to struggle with sin. I don't want to have to suffer for my faith. Yet You tell me to expect it and to rejoice in it. Show me how to do that more effectively. I know I try to do it in my own strength and I fail. So help me do it in Your strength. So that I may speak Your words and serve in your power. And so that You can be glorified on this earth in my life.  Amen

Living In Harmony.

1 Peter 3

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. – Vs 8-9

What if we actually did this? What if husbands and wives really did live these verses out in their marriages? What if members of the body of Christ were able to illustrate these truths in their lives together?

Can you imagine the impact we would have on the world around us? Everything Peter lists here is simply the outcome of a life lived in the Spirit. We can't manufacture it or muster it up in our own strength. At least, not for long. Yet because we are new creations with the Spirit of God living within us, we have the capacity to do all of these things. We really can live in harmony with one another, in our marriages, homes, and church. Which means we can be of "one mind," having a common focus, a single purpose for our lives. We can and should sympathize with one another, showing compassion and a mutual understanding of what the other person is going through. Think about that one. If we see a brother or sister, or a husband or wife struggling with sin or stumbling in their walk, we tend to look down our nose at them. We even criticize them, or worse yet, we avoid them. Instead we should have the attitude, "but for the grace of God go I." To sympathize with them is to feel their feelings, to understand their pain, and to express that understanding in love and compassion, not judgment. That's what it means to "love as brothers," compassionately and humbly, not mercilessly and pridefully.

We really can extend blessing to one another instead of getting back or getting even. As followers of Christ we can suffer insult or injury, even from those we love or those we attend church with, and keep a good conscience (Vs 16). We can respond in a Christ-like way because we have the Spirit of Christ within us. In fact, we can do all these things because it was for this purpose we were called. We are to be living out our transformed lives in the midst of life. It should be reflected in our behavior toward one another – in our homes, marriages, and churches. Believers loving believers. But it also extends beyond our relationships to one another to those outside the family of Christ. To our lost family members, neighbors, co-workers and friends. The words found in these two verses are a reflection of the words Jesus spoke in Luke 6:27-28.

But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you."

This is the Christ life, the life to which we have been called. We are change agents in a world that is desperately looking for something different than the same old thing. We have what they are looking for: The hope that is in us (Vs 15) lived out in daily life through our actions. That is the best defense of the Gospel there ever was. Far more powerful than a well-articulated, biblically sound defense of the faith. Because actions really do speak louder than words.

Father, may I continue to learn to live these verses out in my daily life. Forgive me for the lack of harmony, sympathy, compassion and humility that so often marks my life. It is a reminder that I am living according to the flesh and not the Spirit. Open my eyes to see that You have called me to something far greater than to live out my own petty, self-absorbed life. I am called to be Your hands and feet on this earth, living out Your love to all those around me. Amen

Living Up To Our Calling.

1 Peter 2

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.– Vs 9

This is who we are. It's our identity. As believers, we no longer belong to this world, but we are "aliens and strangers" (Vs 11). We are "free men" (Vs 16). We are "living stones" (Vs 5). We are a people who have been handpicked, chosen by God Himself. We are a royal priesthood, set apart to serve Him. We are a holy nation, serving a new King. We are a people who belong to God and Him alone.

Sure, we still live in this world and we are susceptible to its temptations and trials. But the fact is, we are no longer of this world. We can and should live lives that are different and distinct. We can say no to the desires of the flesh that tempt us to do what we know we shouldn't do (Vs 11). We can live good and godly lives that produce acts of goodness (Vs 12). We can submit to those in authority over us, whether we think they deserve it or not (Vs 13-14). We can enjoy our new-found freedom in Christ without using it as an excuse to snub our noses at those in authority, whether it's the president of our country or the boss where we work (Vs 16). We can show honor to ALL people, not just those who are honorable (Vs 17). We can patiently put up with undeserved suffering (Vs 20). We can die to sin and live to righteousness (Vs 24).

Why? Because we are His. We belong to Him. We have His Spirit within us. We have His power available to us. We have His nature. So we have the capacity to live as who we are. And when we do, we "show others the goodness of God" (New Living Translation). Our lives become living proof of God's grace, mercy, and transformational power. We live differently because we are different. We stand out because we have been set apart. And together we create a spiritual temple where we offer up sacrifices to God as we live out our lives in faithful obedience and service to Him.

Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service." – Romans 12:1

Father, help me to live as who I am. May my life be increasingly more reflective of my set-apart nature, my alien status in this world. I want my conduct and speech to reflect Who I belong to, and to literally shout Your praises as I live my life. Amen

Holy, So Live Like It.

1 Peter 1

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. – Vs 13

Sometimes when reading a passage, I like to look at other translations of the Bible in order to get a better grasp on the meaning. Check out how these versions translate the same verse:

Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. (NET Bible)

So think clearly and exercise self–control. Look forward to the special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ. (New Living Translation)

So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. (The Message)

So make your minds ready, and keep on the watch, hoping with all your power for the grace which is to come to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Bible in Basic English)

Get your minds ready, roll up your sleeves, think clearly, prepare your minds for action. Do you get a sense of what Peter is saying? He is talking about having minds that are on the alert and ready to act. They are not distracted or weighed down by the cares of this world. It is a picture of a soldier who is fully prepared for battle. He can respond without delay to whatever need may arise. He is focused on the job at hand. Peter says that is the way our minds should be.

Be sober, self-controlled, put your mind in gear, keep on the watch. The Greek word used for "sober" has to do with abstaining from wine, but it can also mean "to be sober, to be calm and collected in spirit." Basically, Peter seems to be saying, "Don't let anything or anyone else influence you." The senses of your spirit need to be alert and ready at all times. Yet how often do we find ourselves "drunk on" or "under the influence of" the things of this world. We fill our spirit with the false messages of hope, happiness, fulfillment, and satisfaction this world offers. Then when God calls on us to act, we are unresponsive. Our spiritual reflexes are slowed or impaired. Instead of keeping watch, we become distracted or even fall asleep at our post.

Fix your hope, look forward to, be totally ready, hope with all your power. There's a reason we are to have our minds ready and our spirits on high alert. So that we can fix our hope on what is to come. The final measure of God's incredible gift of grace that we will receive when Jesus Christ returns. Our hope is not in this world. Sure, we are enjoying God's grace right now, but the real basis of our hope is yet to come. Jesus is going to return one day and complete God's plan of redemption and reconciliation. He will make all things right. He will restore everything back to the way it was meant to be. Righteousness will reign. The rule of sin will be over. That is what our hope is fixed on. It is what our salvation is based on.

So what's the point? Peter gives it to us just a few verses later when he says, "like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your behavior" (Vs 15). Peter isn't saying that we have to be perfect and sinless. He is saying to see ourselves as set apart unto God. We have been chosen by Him (Vs 1). He has caused us to be born again (Vs 3). He has reserved an inheritance in heaven for us (Vs 5). So we should live lives that reveal we are His. We have been set apart by God for His use. We belong to Him. So Peter says act like it. Live like it. Behave like it. Don't live like the world. Don't live according to its standards. Instead, live according to God's standards. Get your minds ready for action. Keep your spirits sober and alert. Fix your hope on the return of Jesus.

Father, thank You for choosing me, for setting me apart as Your own. I want to live up to my calling. I want to reflect with my life the unique nature of who I am: a child of God. Help me keep my mind ready for action, my spirit sober and alert, and my hope fixed on the future return of Your Son. Don't let me get distracted, disillusioned, or drunk on the things of this world. Because I am Yours! Amen

Hard-To-Believe News.

Mark 16

He is risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. – Vs 6

He is risen. He is not here. Jesus was not where they expected Him to be. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome had come to the tomb expecting to find a body. A dead body. Their earlier expectations of Jesus being the long-awaited Messiah, had been replaced with much lower expectations. As they made their way to the tomb, they carried spices used for anointing the dead. Their hopes had ceased with Jesus' final breath on the cross. Now as they walked together their only concern was about who was going to help them roll away the stone from the entrance so they could anoint the body. What a sad scene. How demoralized these three women must have been. But they weren't alone. The rest of the disciples felt the same way. All was lost. Their Savior was dead. Their dreams were dashed. Their hopes for salvation were lying in a cave carved into a rocky hillside. Or were they?

Here is the place where they laid Him.

Much to their surprise, astonishment and shock, the tomb was empty. The very stone they had been talking about as they walked to the tomb was rolled aside. The body they had come to anoint was gone. All that was left were the burial clothes and an angel. He tells them to look at the place where Jesus body had been. He wants them to see that it is empty. There is nothing there. No body. No death. No defeat. The tomb is empty. Just as their fears had been. They had come expecting to find a dead body. They "fled from the tomb" in a state of shock, fear, and disbelief. They had come crying. They left running. They had come defeated. They left excited. They had come demoralized. They left energized. Their emotions of sadness and sorrow had been replaced with amazement, astonishment, trembling, and fear. The tomb was empty.

But go, tell His disciples and Peter!

I think it is interesting that the angel did not allow these three women to sit and linger at the tomb. He didn't allow them to fixate on the place, but instead, he kept them focused on the person. Jesus was going ahead of them. He wasn't in the tomb, but had gone on. The tomb had been their original destination, but the angel redirected them. He gave them a new destination and a new occupation. Rather than anoint, they were to announce. They had a message to share. Go! Tell! Spread the news! Jesus was alive!

As we wrap up the book of Mark, I am reminded how easy it is for me to lower my expectations when it comes to Jesus. Sure, I know He is risen. I know He sits at the right hand of the Father. I know He is coming back again some day. But I can still be guilty of acting as if the tomb really isn't empty. I can live as though He never really did rise from the dead. I mourn. I doubt. I fear. I question. I live as though my Savior was the victim, instead of victorious. Or I fixate on the empty tomb. I recognize that He is alive. I get amazed at the fact that He is alive and the tomb is empty. I worship His victory, but I still live in defeat. Like these three women, if left to my own devices, I would sit in the empty tomb and stare at "the place where they laid Him." But in doing so, I would accomplish nothing. I would miss out on the excitement of seeing Him, of experiencing Him. The women were instructed to go and tell. They had a job to do. They were told that if they did as they were instructed, they would see Him. They would see the resurrected Lord with their own eyes. Which is a whole lot better than looking at where He used to be. An empty tomb can't compare to a risen Savior.

So are you going and telling? And as you do, are you expecting to run into the risen Savior Himself? Have you seen Him? Has He confirmed for you that the tomb really is empty? Are you experiencing Him daily? Is He revealing Himself to you regularly? That is what He wants to do. He wants us to go, to tell, and to see. He wants us to share from our experience. He wants to prove to us that He is risen, by showing Himself alive and well in our lives and our circumstances. Has He done that for you? He wants to.

Father, Your Son is alive and well. He is risen. But how often I live as though the tomb is NOT empty. I live as though My Savior does not live. I doubt. I fear. I live in defeat. I fail to see Jesus as living and active in my life. I fail to recognize His presence around Me. Help me to see that the tomb is empty. Help me be obedient to go and tell. Then allow me to see Him every day of my life in the experiences of my life. Amen

Down, But Not Out.

Mark 15

Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself! – Vs 29-30

Jesus is hanging on the cross and the crowd is mocking Him. One of the things they are throwing into His face is the statement He made after He cleaning out the temple the first time. He had stated the temple would be destroyed, but that He would raiseit upthree days later. We find this exchange recorded in the book of John.

Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. – John 2:18-22

Now as Jesus hung on the cross, the people stood there mocking Him for claiming that He would destroy their precious temple in three days, then rebuild it. But as usual, they had missed the point. First of all, Jesus never claimed that He was going to destroy the temple. He said that THEY were going to be the ones who destroyed it. But He wasn't talking about the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus was talking about His own body. He had predicted the very event that was now taking place. The Jews were in the process of destroying His body and, but what they didn't know was thatHE would come back to life three days later.

And that's exactly what He did. Which is really good news when you consider the bad news that seems to fill this chapter. The crowds are mocking Jesus. They are shouting, "save Yourself, and come down from the cross!" They don't get it. They don't understand that Jesus did not come to save Himself, but to save others. Even the chief priest and spiritual leaders are mocking Him saying,

He saved others; He cannot save Himself. Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe! – Vs 31-32

No, they don't get it. They don't understand. Right there in front of them hung the Son of God. The very Messiah or deliverer they had been waiting for for generations. But they had no intention of believing. Instead they mocked and jeered and laughed. And Jesus died. Mark records, "And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last." The Jews had accomplished their objective. They had destroyed the Temple of God. They had eliminated the One who had been a thorn in their side for over three years. Their problems were over. Now things could get back to normal. Or so they thought.

Jesus was down, but He was far from out. He was dead, but the grave would not be able to hold Him. Death could not stop Him.

But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. – Acts 2:24

Chapter 15 of Mark seems like the climactic end to a very sad story. But we know, as Paul Harvey used to say, "the rest of the story." We know about chapter 16. We know that the worst intentions of man could not halt the divine plans of God. All the repulsive schemes of the enemy could never stand in the way of the redemptive plan of God. Chapter 15 ends at the tomb. Chapter 16 begins in the very same place. But something has changed. The mockers are gone. The Pharisees are gone. The soldiers are gone. The crowds are gone. But more importantly, the body of Jesus is gone. But more on that Monday.

Father, never let us forget the rest of the story. Because when we do, we get discouraged. We come to the grave looking a body, instead of a miracle. The enemy wants us to live in defeat instead of victory. He wants us to see the empty tomb as just another empty promise. He wants us to doubt its power and importance. But there is victory in death. "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:56-57).  Amen

Love Wrote the Play.

Mark 14

I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. – Vs 62

Jesus' days on this earth were coming to a close. In this chapter we find Him anointed by Mary with costly perfume, eating the Passover meal with His disciples for the last time, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, and then being betrayed by one of His own followers into the hands of the religious leaders who have long waited for this moment. This is a bitter-sweet chapter that is full of emotion. The mood seems to swing from joy and celebration to anger, sorrow and deep melancholy. It starts with threats of death and is followed by an act of sacrifice by a woman who was extremely grateful. The Passover meal was supposed to be a celebration, a commemoration of God's redemption of the people of Israel out of slavery. But it was turned into a time of disappointment and disillusionment as Jesus revealed His coming betrayal and death. For 72 verses this chapter is a roller coaster of emotion. But in verse 62, there is a bright shining moment of hope and anticipation. It is a glimmer of light in the darkness of despair. And it jumps off the page as a reminder that this story has a very happy ending.

"I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Does it bring a smile to your face? It should. Right when everything is looking like it has all gone wrong, when the joy has been replaced with darkness and despair, when it feels like the bad guys are going to win, Jesus reveals the ending of the story. For the disciples, it appears as if everything has gone wrong. So much so, that after Jesus' arrest, they all go into hiding. Peter ends up denying Him. But Jesus knew something they didn't know. God had set this stage and knew how the story was going to end. Jesus revealed it in His statement in verse 62. It reminds me of a song by David Wilcox. In his lyrics, he talks about the author of a play who wants to write about love being greater than hate. So he writes his play to make it look like hate is going to win. When everything is at its darkest, and the audience is expecting the worst to happen, the author of the play reveals what he has known all along: But it's love that wrote the play...

If someone wrote a play
To just to glorify what's stronger than hate
Would they not arrange the stage
To look as if the hero came too late?
He's almost in defeat
It's looking like the evil side will when
So on the edge of every seat
From the moment that the whole thing begins

It is love who mixed the mortar
And it's love who stacked these stones
And it's love who made the stage here
Although it looks like we're alone
In this scene, set in shadows,
Like the night is here to stay
There is evil cast around us
But it's love that wrote the play
For in this darkness love can show the way

Now the stage is set
You can feel your own heart beating in your chest
This life's not over yet
So we get up on our feet and do our best
We play against the fear
We play against the reasons not to try
We're playing for the tears
Burning in the happy angel's eyes

– Show the Way, David Wilcox, Universal Music Publishing Group

Love wrote the play. God has an ending to this seeming tragedy called life. And it will involve His Son coming again in power and authority to play the role not of the suffering Servant, but conquering King. Jesus knew something the disciples didn't know – how the story was going to end. And we need to remind ourselves daily that when it looks like there is evil cast around us, and the night is here to stay – it is Love that wrote the play.

Father, all I can say is "Thank You!" You have written the play and it has an incredibly joyful ending. Help me keep my eyes focused on the last scene where the great I Am enters to restore this crazy, sin-filled world back to the way it was always meant to be. Thank You!  Amen

Stay Ready!

Mark 13

Be on the alert! – Vs 33, 35, 37

This is one incredible chapter. If you've got a red-letter edition Bible, then your page probably contains very little black ink. Because this chapter is almost all the words of Jesus from beginning to end. He is sitting opposite the eastern walls of Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives, probably in one of His favorite spots, the Garden of Gethsemane. Back in January of 2008, I had the privilege to go to Israel and sit in that very garden, surrounded by ancient, gnarled olive trees that have been in that spot since the days of Jesus. Across the Kidron valley you can still see the walls of Jerusalem. What's missing is the Temple. In its place sits the Dome of the Rock, a Muslim mosque. But the scene is still breathtaking for any believer. And here sat Jesus with His disciples, enjoying the shade of the olive trees. The disciples want to continue a conversation Jesus had begun as they passed by the temple on their way out of the city. They had commented on the beautiful stones and buildings that made up the magnificent Temple Complex.

Rather than comment on the beauty of the buildings, Jesus surprises them by saying, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down." This had to have come as a shock to the disciples. After all, this was the Temple, the dwelling place of God Himself, and Jesus is saying that it is going to be destroyed. It must have left the disciples dumbstruck, because it is not until they sit down to rest on the hillside across the valley that they are able to continue the conversation. They want to know when this is going to happen and what the signs will be that it is going to take place. Jesus then goes into a rather lengthy monologue regarding the future. He tells them about events that are going to be fulfilled in the not-to-distant future and those that will not take place until the end of the Tribulation, just prior to His second coming. The Temple would be destroyed in A.D. 70 and we saw the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy when we stood at the base of the Temple mount and saw gigantic stones lying on the ground, the remains of the once-glorious Temple.

But as bad as the news about the Temple had to be for these men, the more devastating news had to do with them. Jesus tells them they are going to be delivered over to the courts, flogged in the synagogues, stand trial before governors and kings, be arrested, imprisoned, and hated. Now that had to make their day! So he tells them to "be on their guard" (Vs 9), to "take heed, keep on the alert," (Vs 33), to "be on the alert," (Vs 35), and to warn others to "be on the alert!! (Vs 37). These guys had no idea when any of these things was going to happen. And neither do we. Oh, we know that some of these things have already been fulfilled, but there is much that Jesus discusses that has yet to happen. And even as bad as things may appear to be right now, many of these things could be a long way off. And some of these things will only happen at the end of the Tribulation period, and we will have been long gone due to the rapture of the church at the beginning of the tribulation. So what are we supposed to take away from this? The same thing the disciples did. Be on the alert.

We are to remain in readiness. We are to be prepared for anything and everything. Paul tells us, "So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled" (1 Thessalonians 5:6). He encourages us to "… pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18). He reminds us to "be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong" (! Corinthians 16:13).

We've got to be ready. We've got to remain diligent and mindful of what is going on around us. Just like the disciples of Jesus' day. We are on a mission. We are soldiers in the army of God, and we must remain battle-ready at all times. Paul warned Timothy, "No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier" (2 Timothy 2:4). Are you ready? Are you on the alert? Or are you tangled up in the affairs of life? Let's constantly remind each other what Jesus said, "What I say to you I say to all, 'Be on the alert!'" (Vs 37).

Father, I want to be ready. I don't want to fall asleep on my post. I don't want to get distracted by the things of this world and lose sight of the war that you are waging all around me. You are at work, and I want to be ready to be used by You for whatever role You might have for me. So help me heed the call of Jesus to "Take heed, keep on the alert!" Amen

How's Your Love LIfe?

Mark 12

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.'" – Vs 29-31

In this chapter we see Jesus in a number of discussions with the religious leaders of His day. It starts our with Jesus' stinging indictment on the people of Israel – faintly veiled in the form of a parable. But we know they got the message because verse 12 says, "they understood that He spoke the parable against them." So they went away only to return with a plan to trap Him through the use of a series of questions, each designed to expose Jesus as a fraud. One had to do with the unfair taxation of the Romans. Another had to do with the resurrection. A third had to do with which commandment was the greatest or most important. Each time they were trying to put Jesus in a predicament where any answer He gave would get Him in trouble. Jesus handles all their attempts at entrapment with ease, frustrating their plans and feeding their growing contempt for Him.

But the one exchange that stands out from them all is found in verses 28-34. Jesus has already been confronted by the Pharisees, the Herodians, and some Sadducees. Each group had their own "trick" questionfor Jesus answer. Now along comes a scribe. He is a member of a well-respected occupation, whose job it was to copy the law. But he was more than a mere copyist. By constant and careful copying of the Old Testament laws, he would have become an expert. In the New Testament period the scribes were learned teachers and authoritative leaders, who were drawn from the priests and Levites, as well as the common people. Mark portrays them as high officials, advisors to the chief priests, and teachers of the Law. They were well-educated and well-informed in matters of the law.

So this guy comes up to Jesus and asks Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?" It is impossible to know the intent behind this man's question. We assume he was trying to trick Jesus just like the others. But something leads me to believe he was looking for a legitimate answer to his question. Verse 28 says that he recognized that Jesus had answered the other questions well. So it seems that, as an expert on the law, he was anxious to see if Jesus could answer a question that had probably haunted him for all his professional life. Jesus' answer does not surprise him, because Jesus quotes directly from the Old Testament. Surprisingly, the scribe actually agrees with Jesus when he says, "Right, Teacher; You have truly stated…" (Vs 32). But there is something in the man's statement that is worthy of closer inspection. He requotes the very same passage from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, but makes an important addition.

The scribe said to Him, "Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM; AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE’S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." – Vs 32-33

Do you see it? This expert on the law states that loving God and loving others is more important to God than an abundance of burnt offerings and sacrifices. Basically, he is saying that the intentions of the heart are more important than efforts of the flesh. Anyone can offer sacrifices and burnt offerings and be going through the motions. In Matthew 15:8, Jesus said this of the Pharisees, ""These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Love comes from the heart. Love for God and love for others is impossible without something happening in the heart. You can't fake love God or others. But you can certainly DO all the right things that make it appear as if you love God and others.  So we tend to concentrate on the outside, focusing of acts of sacrifice that are the result of self-effort more than they are a natural outflow of legitimate love for God and others.

So how's your love life?

Sounds kind of personal doesn't it? But love is personal. It's intimate. And it has to come from the heart for it to be real. But some of us have a hard time loving ourselves, let alone others. We have a hard time believing that God loves us, so we find it hard to love Him in return. We withhold love from others until they show love to us. But fortunately for us, God doesn't love that way. He just loves. And according to Jesus, the two greatest commandments He gave us are to love Him back, and to share His love with others. This journey we call the Christian life is not about rules, rituals, and religious creeds. It isn't about accomplishing things for God with our hands. It is about the heart. It is about love. It is about relationship. It is about loving because He has loved us. But it's hard to love others when you don't feel loved. It's impossible to love others when you can't even love yourself. But God does love you. He sent His Son to die for you. Not because you were lovely or lovable, but because love is the essence of God. And His undeserved, unmerited love for us is what motivates and empowers us to love Him in return and all those He brings into our lives.

We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. – 1 John 4:19-21

It is interesting that after this exchange with the scribe, Mark records, "After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions" (Vs 34). Why do you think that is? I think Jesus had just nailed down the real issue going on with the religious leaders. It was their hearts. They didn't truly love God and they didn't love others. They had missed the point altogether and had made their lives nothing more than a list of religious rules and rituals to keep. But how easily we can fall prey to the same kind of mentality. But God calls us to a life of love.

Father, forgive me for not loving more. I confess that I often find it easier to offer you my sacrifice of self-effort and offerings of self-righteousness when all you are asking for is love. Love for You and love for my neighbor. May these two commandments truly become the greatest in my life. May I learn to be loved and love. May I extend to others the kind of love You have given to me. Sacrificially and selflessly. Amen

Faithfulness and Fruitlessness Don’t Mix.

Mark 11

May no one ever eat fruit from you again. – Vs 14

In reading through the book of Mark, you could almost reach the conclusion that he had some kind of Attention Deficit Disorder. Time after time he begins one story, then suddenly changes gears by beginning another story, only to return to the first story a few sentences later. Chapter 11 is no exception. It marks the beginning of Jesus' Triumphal Entry into the city of Jerusalem. He sends two of His disciples ahead to help prepare for His entrance. They are to locate a colt on which He will ride, in fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy:

Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!

Shout, daughter of Jerusalem!

Look! Your king is coming to you:

he is legitimate and victorious,

humble and riding on a donkey—

on a young donkey, the foal of a female donkey. – Zechariah 9:9

Mark records that the two disciples found the young donkey and Jesus made His entrance into the city seated on it – with the cheers and shouts of the crowds filling the air. Jesus makes His way into the Temple, "and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late" (Vs 11). The next morning Jesus and His disciples make their way back to Jerusalem from Bethany. On their way, Jesus becomes hungry. Seeing a fig tree full of leaves, He takes a closer look to see if it had any fruit. Discovering the obviously healthy tree to be fruitless, Jesus curses it, saying, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" The only comment Mark makes regarding this event is, "And His disciples were listening." He doesn't say they were puzzled. He doesn't say they were concerned or confused. He simply says they were listening.

This is where Mark's A.D.D. seems to show up. He drops the fig tree story and picks back up with Jesus returning to the Temple. It's interesting that neither Luke or Matthew record the story of the cursing of the fig tree in their accounts. Instead, they give the story of the cleansing of the Temple more priority. But in his record of this passage, Mark deliberately sandwiches the two encounters with the fig tree in between Jesus’ cleansing of the temple. Why? What's the point?

Fruitlessness

I find that it is no coincidence that Jesus cursed the barren fig tree, then made His way to the Temple, where He violently threw out those who were buying and selling, and exchanging money. Jesus' anger was over the fact that this was all being done for profit by the religious authorities. They were in charge of this whole affair, and were lining their pockets with the profit. They had taken the courtyard reserved for Gentile worshipers and turned it into a Super Walmart. You could exchange your currency for the official Temple currency (for an exhorbitant fee). You could have your lamb examined by the priests, only to be told it was unfit for sacrifice. But you were in luck, because you could buy a replacement lamb right there (for an inflated price). In fact, you could buy doves or any other sacrificial animals right there in the courtyard of the Gentiles. And all the while, the religious leaders were making a killing off of the whole thing. That's why Jesus was so upset. They had turned a place of sacrifice, repentance and worship into a place of commerce. They were disguising their greed and sinfulness with a seeming act of righteousness.

“His disciples were listening.”

After cleansing the Temple, Jesus and His disciples return to Bethany for the evening. As they made their way back to Jerusalem in the morning, they encountered the fig tree again, but this time it was withered and dead. In fact, Mark records that it was "withered from the roots up." Peter is the first to speak and points out the dead tree to Jesus. Obviously, Jesus had intended this all along as a teaching moment, revealing to His disciples something they desperately needed to know.

Looking for fruit

You might call this a living parable. Mark links the incident of the fig tree directly to the situation that had occurred on the Temple grounds. Jesus was using the fig tree as a lesson for His disciples. He had come to the fig tree looking for fruit, but found none. Instead He found only leaves. The tree was had every appearance of life, but lacked the very thing for which it existed: fruit. Mark records that it was not the season for figs, so why did Jesus curse it? Mark's point was that it was not the time for ripe figs, but with this variety of fig tree, there should have been small, unripened figs, because budding precedes leafing and small figs should appear before the leaves. But Jesus finds nothing but leaves. There were no buds, no small figs, and therefore no promise of future normal figs. So Jesus curses it. Why? Because the tree, while full of leaves and having all the appearance of being a healthy, fruit-bearing tree, would never produce fruit.

The message is pretty simple. The Jews of Jesus' day had all the appearance of being healthy and whole. They should be producing fruit. They kept the law, they observed the sacred days and sacrificial requirements. Yet something was missing: fruitfulness. They had the pretension of life, but not the substance of life. They looked good on the outside, but lacked internal faith and external fruit.

This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men. – Mark 7:6-7

Have faith in God

When Peter pointed out the withered fig tree, Jesus simply said, "Have faith in God." What the disciples were going to experience in the coming days was going to require extreme faith. Faith in God, not in man, or in the religious system of their day. They were going to have to trust God. There were going to have to believe Him. To the point that they would be willing to ask Him for the unbelievable. Faith is the key to fruitfulness. They were going to have to trust and believe even in the midst of some very difficult days. But the result would be incredible fruitfulness. So how's your faith today? Are you trusting Him in spite of all that is going on around you? Or do you have all the appearances of spiritual health, but with no fruit to show for it? God is interested in fruit. Fruit is the byproduct of faith. Why not trust Him today? Place your faith in Him and watch Him produce fruit through you?

Father, I want to be fruitful. I don't want to look righteous, but lack the fruit that comes from a life of righteousness. I want my life to be fruitful because I am faith-full! I want to trust You more and me less. Forgive me for looking on the outside too much. For concentrating on appearances instead of the heart. Make me fruitful Father. Amen

The God Of Impossibilities.

Mark 10

With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God. – Vs 27

They say the key to good Bible study is context, context, context. In other words, if you want to understand a passage, you must look at it in its surrounding context. What do the verses aroundit say? What is the basic content or message of the story in which it is found? This verse from Mark 10 is a great example. We take a verse like this and, because of the tremendous nature of the promise it contains, we turn it into a panacea for all situations. And I am as guilty as anyone. How many times have I been in a difficult situation or been talking to someone who finds themselves going through a trying time, and I break out this verse. In the midst of my dilemma I find solace in reminding myself of God's incredible power. "All things are possible with God!" And that is true. The Bible clearly teaches it. Experience clearly proves it. But the problem is, this verse is talking about something altogether different. Let's look at the context:

The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." They were even more astonished and said to Him, "Then who can be saved?" – Vs 24-26

You see, the context is dealing with salvation. Jesus has just had the encounter with the rich young man who had come to Him asking what he needed to do to "inherit eternal life" (Vs 17). The young man does not like Jesus' answer and walks away saddened. Because Jesus had told him to sell all he had and give to the poor. Jesus had basically told him to trade his earthly treasures for treasure in heaven. The young man couldn't do it. His love affair with his stuff was too great. Mark says, "he was one who owned much property." When the young man walks away, Jesus responds to His disciples, "How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!" (Vs 23). Again, the context is entrance into the kingdom. Jesus is talking about salvation. For the disciples this was a difficult statement because they had been raised to believe that a person's wealth was a sign of the blessings of God. The more someone had, the more they must have the favor of God. Which is why they were amazed at His words and asked, "Then who can be saved?" The basic thought behind their question seems to be, "If the rich are going to have a hard time getting into heaven, and they're blessed of God, then what hope do the rest of us have?" That's when Jesus responds with our verse for the day:

With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.

It is impossible for anyone to enter the kingdom of God – whether rich or poor. For the rich it is seemingly harder because of their dependence upon and attachment to their wealth. But every individual has something in this life they are attached to that prevents them from following Christ and finding salvation. For the young man in the story, it was his attachment to his possessions. He was possessed by his possessions. So when Jesus said, "Follow me," he couldn't, and instead walked away sad. This young man had been trying to keep the law, and he was looking for anything else he might be leaving out that he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus simply told him to give up everything of importance in his life in exchange for treasure in heaven, for salvation. To this young man, that was an impossible request. He just couldn't do it. But with God, all things are possible.

You see, this is really a promise regarding salvation and God's role in it. He is the one who saves. We cannot save ourselves. He is the one who redeems, we cannot redeem ourselves, no matter how rich we may be. When it comes to salvation, all of us have to walk away saddened, because it is impossible for us to save ourselves. But all things are possible with God. And those of us who have been redeemed from a life of slavery to sin are living proof of that fact.

For the rich young man, it was impossible for him to let go of all that he had become dependent upon for life, comfort, security, and a sense of self-worth. But God offers more. He offers something eternal and everlasting. I think it is interesting that earlier in this chapter Jesus had the discussion with His disciples regarding children. He told them

…the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all. – Vs 14-15

Childlike faith. Innocent. Dependent. Unquestioning. No baggage. No attachments. That is what Jesus was looking for from the young man. But instead He found a man who was bound by the things of this world. A man looking for ways to earn eternal life. He had come asking what he must do. Children in Jesus day had no rights, no real value or worth. They owned nothing. They had no power. Yet Jesus said the kingdom of God belongs to "such as these." The overlooked, the undervalued, the unimpressive, the weak, the despised, the foolish, …

…but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus… – 1 Corinthians 1:27-30

All things are possible with God. He can and does save anyone He chooses. He can do what is impossible for man. He can save when man can't. And I am living proof of that promise. He saved me! He did what I never could have done. He had His Son pay a price I never could have paid. He did the impossible and the improbable. And He is still doing it today. So when I look around me and see individuals who are in need of His saving grace, I need to remind myself that with God, all things are possible. He can save anyone. Which means we should be sharing the gospel with everyone.

Father, you are the God of the impossible. That any of us are saved is testimony to that fact. I was like that rich young man, attached to the things of this world and unwilling to let go, but you did the impossible. You redeemed me. You brought me to an end of myself. You showed me that I could not earn your favor. Instead, you saved me and for that I am forever grateful. I didn't deserve it, but You did it anyway. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Amen

Flabby Faith.

Mark 9

I do believe. Help my unbelief. – Vs 24

Boy, can I ever relate to that statement. Especially right now when it seems that so much is going on around me. It seems that my faith is being tested daily by my circumstances and surroundings. And I believe. I really do. I believe God is there. I believe He is all powerful. I believe He is in control and fully aware of my situation. I believe what the Word of God says and have confidence in its promises for me. I believe Jesus loves Me and wants what is best for me.

But in spite of all my belief, I still seem to struggle with unbelief. It's really not an issue of a lack of belief or faith, but the quality of that faith. One translation renders verse 24 this way: "I have faith; make my feeble faith stronger" (BBE). Just like the man in the story, I have faith, but my faith or belief is weak. The Greek word used is apistia. It means "want of faith, unbelief, or weakness of faith." The "a" in front of the word is like or prefix "un." When the man says, "I believe," the Greek word used is pisteuo. It means "to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, to place confidence in." This man did believe. Otherwise he would not have brought his demon-possessed son to the disciples for healing. Remember, Jesus and three of His disciples had been up on the mountain for His transfiguration. The rest had been left behind. When Jesus arrives on the scene there is a crowd gathered. This man had brought his son for healing, but had received none. Jesus' first response upon arrival was to say, "O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring Him to Me!" (vs 19).

The word Jesus uses to describe what He sees is "unbelieving." In the Greek it is the word apistos. There's that "a" prefix again. The word means faithless or unbelieving. Look familiar? It's the same basic word the father uses in the story. He had heard Jesus' statement and he includes himself in the crowd of those who are lacking in faith. He understands that he is part of an "unbelieving generation." He believes. He has faith. But it is of a weak variety. For all intense and purposes, it is non-existent. Because a faith that does not see results might as well be unfaith. It is a non-existent faith. So far this man's faith had gotten him nowhere. His son was still possessed. So he knows nothing more than to ask Jesus for help with his unbelief, his weak faith. And how does Jesus respond? He heals the man's son. What do you think this did for the man's faith? I think it was like a steriod shot or a double-shot of espresso. Watching Jesus work was a boost to this man's faith. But isn't that how it always works? We don't muster up more faith. We can't produce a greater degree of faith. We just have to take what little faith we have and bring it to Him. It is when we see Him work that our faith begins to grow. It is when we bring Him what little we have that we get the privilege of watching Him work, and we walk away with our faith increased. Isn't that the story behind the feeding of the 5,000? The disciples had weak faith. They wanted to send the people away. They could not see any way to feed that many people. So Jesus asks them to bring what they had. And they bring a paltry couples of loaves and fishes. But what happened next? Jesus turns a little into a lot. He performs a miracle. And each disciple walked away with a basketfull of leftovers. They carried away an armful of increased faith.

How's your belief today? You have it, but it is probably a little on the weak side. You have muscles, but some of them may be a little weak and flabby. Why? Because of disuse. They exist, but they're underused. The same is true of our faith. We have it, but we just don't use it. Why not bring it to Him today? Ask Him to help you with your unbelief, your "little" faith. If you do, you will walk away with increased faith, because He will act. He will do something to make your faith grow. He always does.

Father, help my unbelief. My faith is weak from under-use. I don't exercise it enough. I have it, but I am afraid to use it because I don't think it is strong enough to produce results. Which makes it all about me. But this isn't about me. It is about You. You are strong enough. You can do anything. No situation is too big for you. And no situation is limited to the size of my faith. You said I only needed to have faith the size of a mustard seed (Luke 17:6). That's pretty small. So Father, I bring my sometimes microscopic faith to you this morning and ask that you help me. Strengthen my faith by allowing me to see You work. Amen